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Hyperthermia is an elevated body temperature in mammals. I will focus on dogs and cats as they are the two most commonly kept pets in the United States. The effects of hyperthermia, or heat stroke, if left untreated, can cause permanent internal organ damage or even death.

Dogs:

Signs of hyperthermia- excessive panting, reddened gums, inactivity, wide eyes, staggering, weakness, pale gums and salivating. If your dog has been exerting his or herself on a warm day and you notice any of these signs or are suspicious or hyperthermia, gently take your dog's rectal temperature immediately. If it registers higher than 105 degrees, your pet could be at risk. Ways to cool your dog on the way to the veterinarian are rubbing the dog's paw pads in rubbing alcohol. The evaporation of the alcohol on the pads has a cooling effect on the body. You can briefly coat or hose your dog with cool water but absolutely do NOT ice your dog! Cooling a dog too quickly can have just as many negative effects as doing nothing at all. Your dog's temperature needs to be returned to normal slowly and steadily.

Cats:

Signs of hyperthermia- open mouth breathing/panting, red or bright pink gums and inner ears, drooling. Like dogs, gently wipe your cat's paw pads with rubbing alcohol on the way to your veterinarian in possible. Cats detest the odor of alcohol but most cats when suffering from heat stroke will allow you to do this. Try wrapping your cat in a cool, wet towel as most cats will not allow you to wet them directly. As the towel warms to room temperature, replace it with a new cool, wet towel. Try to gently take your cat's temperature with a rectal thermometer first dipped in Vaseline or other lubricant. This is not worth getting mauled over an if your cat begins to struggle, it can also raise the body temperature further, it is far more important to get a cat who is panting to the emergency room than attempt to take its temperature at home. A cat may be open mouth breathing for other, severe respiratory reasons other than hyperthermia so please be safe and not sorry. Like dogs, if your cat's temperature registers above 105 degrees, you need to seek veterinary help immediately.

Many heat stroke victims will suffer cell death, hemorrhaging, excessive internal clotting, kidney failure and brain damage. Hyperthermia will be treated at your veterinary hospital with aggressive fluid therapy, oxygen and dextrose to help prevent cell damage. Your veterinarian and staff can also safely monitor your pet's temperature frequently and make sure it is lowering at an appropriate rate and not too quickly. They will also know how to appropriately use ice packs, perhaps running your pet's IV fluids through an ice water bath before reaching your pet.

Please avoid hyperthermia by locking your pet in the car on warm days (this is bad practice any day), restricting water intake, letting your pet become obese, pay attention when exercising your pet to your pet's age and exercise tolerance and any conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or malignant hyperthermia, which may cause heat stroke.

Remember that hyperthermia can occur in a matter of minutes and please observe your pets closely.

Learn more about this author, Rachael Joseph.
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